Engine-starting system.



J. H. HUNT.

ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED'SEPT. 3, \914..

I Patented. June 26, 1917.

fwuerz 767* Y ii rams Parana" march.

JOHN HERMAN HUNT, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DAYTON ENGINEERING LABORATORIES COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ENGINE-STARTING- SYSTEM.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented June 26, 31917.

Application filed September 3, 1914. Serial No. 859,969.-

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I. Jon): HERMAN HUXT,

a citizen'of the United States of America,

residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine Starting Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in electrical systems for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to systems of this type wherein an electric machine is driven as a generator or is operable as a. motor for starting purposes.

One of the objects of the present invention is to. provide a transmission mechanism or connecting devices between the electric machine and the combustion engine, which may be shifted into either its inoperative orwork positions without displacement of the electric machine.

Another object is to arrange the driving elements that one of said elements meshes with the other before the transmission mechanism comes into contact with the driven element.

A further object relates to a means for shifting the connecting devices into such a position for starting, that the contact between the connecting devices and the engine is increased until the speed of the engine becomes greater than the speed of the connecting devices, at which time said devices will be automatically thrown out of engagement with the engine.

More specifically, the connecting devices are mounted on controlling means, so fulcrumed, that said devices are first oscillated, for a limited distance, on a floating center. This-movement connects the motor to the intermediate connecting devices. A further movement of these devices, oscillating about a stationary center, causes the intermediate connecting devices to come into engagement with the flywheel, or any other suitable part of the engine.

preferred form of the Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing. wherein one present invention 1s clearly illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an automobile chassis and engine, including one form of the present invention.

F 1g. 2 is a view of the automatic clutch ,element mounted in the generator sprocket which is'shown partly broken away.

Fig, 3 is an end view of the transmission mechanism or the intermediate connecting devices and their component parts.

Referring to the drawing, the side frames of the chassis are indicated by the numeral 20. Between these frames and upon the cross members 21, the engine 22 is suitably mounted. This engine may be of any preferred type, the one shown in the drawing being of a four cylinder four cycle type, and is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and is not to be considered in limitation of the invention.

The starting device 24: comprises an electric machine, mounted adjacent to the .engine, and so arranged that one end of any way as a connected to the sprocket wheel 27, by means of a flexible connection 28. The sprocket wheel 27 may be mounted directly on an eX- tension of the crank shaft 29. or on any other shaft which may be-connected with or driven by said crank shaft.

The armature shaft 25 has an extension at its other end also. as at 30. This carries the driving pinion 3d: and forms the stationary fulcrmn for the arm The other gear 32 of the connecting device is mounted upon a shaft 36. said shaft being secured to the control lever which is pivoted to the floating shaft 38. Said control lever 3 has an extension 39 at its one v end, to which is fastened any suitable operating element accessible to the operator of the machine. Another projection formed at the opposite extremity of the lever 33, has one end of the spring l0 fastened thereto. the other end of said spring being fastened to the frame 20 of the chassis.

The lever 35 has a projection 41 so formed that when the intermediate connecting devices are oscillated on the shaft 38, a limited movement of the said devices will bring a shoulder l3. formed on the lever 33, into contact with the face ll of the projection '41. A stop 42 is provided to limit the upward movement of the connecting devices caused by the spring -0. This stop can be 55 I to increase the contact between the friction secured to'any-suitable part of the machine which will bring the same in alinement with the lever 33.

" Another stop 4:4: is provided, which limits thedownward travel ofethe arm 35, and 1s located in any suitable manner on the chassis of the engine.

Suitable automatic clutching or disconnecting elements are provided in the sprocket 126 and gear wheel 32, to make adjustments for the different ratios of .speed. Then the dynamdelectric machine is cranking the @115 connects 15.

"26, ,(see Fig. :2), carried by the sprocket engine, the clutching element 37 automatithe gear 3:2 with the friction element 31. At the same time, the clutch 26, automatically disconnects. the dynamo electric machine from the engine at this point. The clutch 37 disconnects and 26 connects when the engine is running the ynamo electric machine as a generator.

The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired to crank the engine, the shaft 30 carrying the pinion 34, is caused to rotate by closing the initial motor circuit of the dynamo electric machine. The

element which is secured to the projection 39 of the lever 33, is depressed, which 5. 'Any suitable circuit closing device may be causes the connecting devices including a gear 32 to oscillate on the center 38, along the arc 46 until the shoulder 4.3, formed on the lever 33, comes into contact with the face 41 of the projection ell on the lever 35.

..This movement will bring the gear 32 into "mesh with the rotating pinion 34., causing thesa'fne to rotate. Upon a further movement of the element 45, the connecting devices will oscillate on the stationary shaft 30, because the shaft 49.

36, upon wh h the pressure is exerted through the elements to and 39, is located as the'vertical plane of the center of the shaft 30. This causes the friction element ofth'e connecting devices to be brought into contact with the flywheel l7 of the engine.

employed to. close the cranking circuit of the starting system, which adds -a greater torque to the dynamo electric machine as a motor.

Referring to Fig. 3, and noting the direc- .tion of rotation by the arrows, it can be seen -that when the explosion engine is "driven by "the dynamo electric machine through the friction disk 31, the resultant force will tend and the flywheel of the engine.

.f-L This force will be reversed after the en- -gine becomes self actuating and the speed of the flywheel exceeds that of the friction disk. In this case, the said disk will be forced or thrown out of contact with the flywheel.

While I have shown and described one *hould be understood that I reserve the right tov make any changes or alterations as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is as follows:-

1. In a starting system for internal combustion or explosion engines, the combina tion with a power unit; connecting devices connected with said power unit and capable of movement to engage with the engine; and means for initially imparting movement to all of saidconnecting devices to bring certain of the devices into contact withthe engine and to then impart a further movement to the device in contact with the engine to increase the pressure of the contact between the connecting device and the engine.

2. In a starting system for internal combustion or explosion engines, the combination with a starting device; connecting dewith the engine; means for oscillating said connecting devices about a floating fulcrum preferred form of the present invention, it

for connecting the connecting devices to the starting device; and means for oscillating the connecting devices and the floating fulcrum about a fixed fulcrum to bring sai connecting devices into engagement with the engine.

I. In a starting system for internal combustion or explosion engines, the combination with a starting device; connecting devices adapted to connect said starting device with the engine; means for oscillating said connecting devices for a limited vdistance about a floating fulcrum for connecting the said devices wlth the starting devlce; and means for oscillatlng the connecting devlces and the-floating fulcrum about a fixed fulcrum to bring said devices into engagement with the engine.

. 5. In a starting device for internal com- 'bustion or explosion engines, the combination with a starting device; connecting devicesfor coupling the starting device with the engine; means for oscillating saiddevices for bringing same intocontact with the engine; means for restoring said connecting devices with their controlling elements, into their normal position; and stop devices for limiting the scope of opemtion of the means normal position.

6. In a starting system for internal combustion or explosion engines, the combination with a power unit; connecting devices connected with said power unit and capable of movement to engage with the engine; means for initially imparting movement to 111 of said connecting devices to bring .certuin of the devices into contact with the engine and to then impart a further movement to the device in contact with the engine to fiepies or this patient may be obtained for increzise the pressure of the contact between the connecting device and the engine; and

means for uutonnitically returning the con necting: devices to nornnil position when the speed of the engine becomes greater than the speed of the connecting devices.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 0 in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' JOHN HERMAN HUNT.

Witnesses:

WALTER W. E nonL, Josnrn W. McDoxALn.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

